>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS AS I TRAVEL AROUND CALIFORNIA IS THAT I'M ALWAYS MEETING NEW AND VERY INTERESTING PEOPLE IN VERY UNEXPECTED PLACES.

FOR EXAMPLE, WITHIN A 2 DAY PERIOD RECENTLY, I MET 2 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WHO SPECIALIZE IN WORKING WITH WOOD AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE INVITED US TO COME SEE THEIR WOODWORK.

SO RIGHT NOW ON THIS FIRST PART OF OUR WOOD ADVENTURE, WE ARE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY OF NORTH HILLS IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND WE'VE COME TO THIS WOODEN FENCE RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT BACK BEHIND THIS FENCE IS THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL I MET RECENTLY.

JOHN, INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

>> I'M JOHN TALBOT.

Huell: NOW, WHERE DID WE MEET?

LET'S FILL EVERYBODY IN.

DON'T GIVE AWAY WHAT IT WAS YOU WERE DOING BUT YOU WERE AT THE... >> AT THE FARMERS MARKET--AT THE HOLLYWOOD FARMERS MARKET.

Huell: AND I CAME OVER AND LOOKED AT YOUR WORK AND WAS AMAZED BY IT AND YOU INVITED US TO COME SEE HOW YOU PUT IT TOGETHER BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS JOHN'S WORK AMAZING BUT THE MATERIALS THAT YOU WORK WITH REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

NOW, WE'RE STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF IT RIGHT NOW.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS WOOD BUT THIS IS NOT JUST ANY OLD WOOD.

THIS IS WOOD THAT OTHER PEOPLE THREW AWAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS CALIFORNIA--LOS ANGELES GROWN.

IT'S IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS AND SO ON AND I GO SCAVENGING AND I FIND IT EITHER AT, UH--WELL, THIS PIECE IS MAGNOLIA.

THIS WAS A TREE--GREAT BIG TREE LIKE THIS STANDING--I DON'T KNOW HOW TALL.

MAYBE 800 FEET TALL.

IT WAS A BIG TREE.

WAS ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY AROUND.

Huell: AND YOU WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND JUST SAW THIS TREE BEING CUT DOWN OUT IN THE MEDIAN OR SOMETHING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NO, IT WASN'T IN THE MEDIAN.

IT WAS IN THE EMPTY LOT BUT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF VAN NUYS.

SO, IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION BECAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE OF HUGE TRUCKS THERE AND ONE OF THEM HAD--HAD ONE OF THE LOBSTER CLAW ON IT AND ANOTHER GUY WAS SAWING IT DOWN.

AND SO I DROVE OVER AND SAID, YOU WANT TO PUT THAT TRUNK IN MY TRUCK AND HE SAID, "SURE!"

AND HE TOOK IT WITH THAT LOBSTER CLAW AND JUST DROPPED IT IN THE BACK OF MY TRUCK.

VOOM!

SCARED ME TO DEATH.

BENT THE TRUCK A LITTLE BIT.

BUT NOT TOO BAD.

Huell: SO YOU GOT THE LOG HOME.

>> I GOT THE LOG HOME.

TOOK ME ALL AFTERNOON TO GET IT OFF.

IT WAS MAYBE 3 TIMES TALLER THAN IT IS NOW.

Huell: WOW!

>> AND THEN WHOLE.

SO I HAD TO CHOP IT UP.

Huell: SO YOU PROBABLY HAVE STORIES BEHIND EVERY PIECE.

WHAT IS THIS ONE RIGHT HERE?

THIS LOOKS LIKE-- >> THAT'S A SYCAMORE AND YOU KNOW A SYCAMORE IS CRAZY GROWING WOOD.

Huell: LOOK HOW IT'S SHAPED ON THE SIDE.

>> YEAH.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS SOMEBODY CUT IT OFF.

YOU CAN PROBABLY SEE.

Huell: WOW!

LOOK AT THE--OH, WOW!

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST CRAZY.

Huell: NOW AGAIN, DID YOU JUST-- YOU JUST FOUND THAT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

>> WELL, NO.

THIS ONE I FOUND.

SOMEBODY SAVED FOR ME.

I HAVE A FRIEND UP THE ROAD WHO'S A WOOD SPLITTER AND I MADE HIM A TOP.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE TOPS?

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> AND HE WAS SO GRATEFUL THAT HE CALLS ME UP EVERY TIME HE GETS SOMETHING THAT'S HARD TO SPLIT AND MIGHT BE FUN FOR ME TO PLAY WITH.

Huell: SO BASICALLY, THROUGH FRIENDS AND THROUGH JUST DRIVING AROUND L.A.

LOOKING-- >> YEAH.

Huell: FOR PEOPLE CUTTING WOOD DOWN.

>> THAT'S IT.

Huell: YOU GET YOUR-- >> I GET MY WOOD.

Huell: MATERIAL.

>> YEAH.

Huell: LOOK AT ALL THIS!

NOW, IS ANY OF THIS SIGNIFICANT?

>> THIS IS COOL.

THIS IS A PIECE OF CHERRY.

Huell: OH, WOW!

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT ABOUT EVERYTHING GROWING OUT OF IT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE WHEN I CUT INTO IT.

I'M EXCITED, TOO.

I CAN'T WAIT.

Huell: WHAT'S THIS PIECE DOWN HERE?

>> NOW THIS IS EUCALYPTUS ROOT.

Huell: A ROOT OF A EUCALYPTUS.

>> YEAH.

THERE WAS A GUY, YOU KNOW, HAD HIS EUCALYPTUS CUT DOWN AND THEN THEY HAVE A ROOT PULLER EXTRACTOR LIKE A TOOTH--TOOTH-- THEY DIG IT UP, THE TIE CHAINS ON IT AND THEY YANK THE WHOLE THING OUT.

AND SO I GOT A HOLD OF THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT ROOTS ARE CRAZY.

YOU KNOW, THE GRAIN GOES EVERY WHICH WAY.

Huell: YEAH.

>> AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM CUTTING IT WITH A CHAINSAW BECAUSE THERE'S SAND AND, YOU KNOW, IT GOES DULL EVERY 2 SECONDS.

IT'S A PAIN IN THE NECK.

THIS IS A POCKET OF SAND.

IT'S JUST DRIVING ME CRAZY.

BUT THEY MAKE UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL BOWLS.

I'LL SHOW YOU ONE.

Huell: SO BASICALLY, YOU ARE JUST ON A CONSTANT SCAVENGER HUNT.

IF PEOPLE SEE YOU DRIVING AROUND, THEY BETTER PROTECT THE TREES IN THEIR FRONT YARD.

>> NO, NO, NO, NO.

I'LL ONLY DO IT IF SOMEBODY CUT IT DOWN ALREADY.

Huell: THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THE BEAUTY OF IT IS, WHEN THEY WERE CUTTING THE TREE DOWN, THEY'RE BASICALLY JUST GOING TO HAVE IT CHIPPED UP AND OUT OF THERE.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANOTHER USE FOR THIS WOOD.

>> THE REST OF THAT MAGNOLIA TREE, WHICH WAS GIGANTIC, IS THERE IN A BIG HEAP.

Huell: YEAH.

>> JUST A BIG HEAP OF CHIPS AND WHO KNOWS-- Huell: SO ACTUALLY, YOU'RE DOING THEM A FAVOR BY GETTING THE TREE OUT OF THEIR YARD.

>> THE CUTTERS LOVE ME BECAUSE I'LL JUST TAKE AWAY A WHOLE TRUNK THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE TO CUT INTO LITTLE PIECES AND STICK IN THEIR CHIPPER AND TAKE THEM ALL DAY.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, WE'VE SEEN YOUR RAW MATERIAL AND A LOT OF RAW MATERIAL YOU HAVE AND OF COURSE, THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG BECAUSE THIS IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING WITH NEW MATERIAL THAT YOU'RE GETTING.

>> WE GOT A VOLUNTEER RIGHT HERE.

Huell: OH, THAT ONE'S--YOU'RE ABOUT TO LOSE ONE OUT OF YOUR OWN YARD.

>> I'M GONNA HAVE TO TURN THAT INTO BOWLS, TOO.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU KIND OF GIVING IT AWAY WHEN YOU USE THE WORD BOWLS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE FROM THE RAW MATERIAL INTO YOUR WORKSHOP WHICH IS HERE IN YOUR BACKYARD AND WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT HE DOES WITH THESE TREES THAT NOBODY ELSE WANTS.

OK, NOW WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS AND JOHN, WHAT KIND OF WOOD ARE YOU WORKING WITH HERE?

>> A PIECE OF SYCAMORE.

THIS IS THAT SYCAMORE BURROW YOU WERE LOOKING AT OUT IN FRONT.

Huell: WOW!

NOW, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, ACTUALLY, PROBABLY CUT IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT FROM ITS ORIGINAL RAW SIZE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

I CUT IT INTO WHAT THEY CALL THIS A BLANK AND I CUT IT SO IT'S OCTAGONAL SHAPE ON THE OUTSIDE AND I DO THAT WITH A CHAINSAW.

Huell: BOY, THOSE CHIPS ARE FLYING RIGHT AND LEFT, AREN'T THEY?

>> YEAH.

Huell: IT'S A VERY HANDS ON KIND OF A THING.

>> YES, IT IS.

Huell: AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH IT?

IS THIS THE TOP OR THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL?

>> THIS IS THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL.

I'M SHAPING THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL FIRST.

I'M CUTTING AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE BOWL.

SO YOU'RE BEGINNING TO BE ABLE TO--BASICALLY, I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT ROUND WITHOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE MACHINE SO I GOT TO GO A LITTLE SLOWLY PIECE BY PIECE.

Huell: OK, WE'RE NOT GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH BUT BASICALLY, WE'VE STOPPED FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE WE GOT, LOOK OVER HERE, THIS IS THE BOTTOM PART OF THE BOWL WHICH JOHN HAS KIND OF ROUGHLY, YOU KNOW, CARVED OUT.

WE SAW THAT.

NOW, WE'VE TURNED IT OVER AND YOU'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON THE INSIDE OF THE BOWL AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU'VE BROUGHT OUT SOME STUFF THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT--WHAT IS THIS?

>> WELL, THAT'S A HOMEMADE CURVED CHISEL FOR A BOWL, LET'S SEE, IT'S FOR SEPARATING CHISEL.

Huell: A SEPARATING HOMEMADE SEPARATING CHISEL THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE MIDDLE AGES THE SAME WAY, JOHN.

>> EXCEPT THAT IT'S GOT A PRETTY HIGH-TECH WRENCH ON IT.

Huell: YEAH, BUT NOW WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

WHAT ARE WE GONNA SEE NOW?

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO GO AS FAR AS I CAN GO WITH THIS KNIFE.

Huell: AND THIS IS CALLED THE KNIFE.

AND THIS IS KIND OF AN OLD UTENSIL AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS A BOWL GOUGE.

Huell: A BOWL GOUGE.

>> SO THAT IT'S MADE SO IT CUTS SORT OF INDIRECTLY INTO THE WOOD.

WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS HIT WOOD DIRECTLY.

IT DOESN'T RESPOND.

IT WILL BREAK THE THING OR KNOCK IT OUT OF YOUR HAND.

Huell: WOW!

YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY MOVING ON THIS MACHINE HERE.

>> THE FIRST FEW TIMES IS PRETTY DODGY.

Huell: START IT UP 'CAUSE I WANT TO SEE, DO I NEED TO STEP BACK?

THEY'RE GONNA BE FLYING EVERY WHICH WAY.

COME ON OVER HERE, CAMERAMAN.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER HERE AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT HE'S DOING.

WOW!

>> I'LL TAKE IT AGAIN ALONG THE EDGE HERE.

UNTIL IT'S--UNTIL THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SMOOTH.

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> IT'S NOT QUITE YET.

Huell: WOW.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO WATCH THIS THING FORM UP.

>> NOW, IT'S SMOOTH AND YOU START TO... Huell: NOW, WE'RE GOING INTO THE BOWL.

>> WE'RE GOING TO START GOING IN, YEAH.

Huell: BOY, IT IS--OHH!

BOY, THIS IS SOMETHING TO WATCH.

WOW!

>> THAT'S THAT.

Huell: THIS IS AMAZING!

>> I KNOW.

Huell: NOW--OH, HE'S BRINGING OUT THE INSTRUMENT NOW.

>> BRINGING OUT THE--WHAT I DO IS RUN THIS RIGHT ALONG THE OUTSIDE AND IT STARTS... Huell: OH, IT'S MAKING--OHH!

>> IT STARTS TO CUT IN.

Huell: YEAH, IT'S CUTTING IN.

IT'S MAKING THE BOWL ROUND ON THE BOTTOM.

>> IT'S CUTTING OUT THE INSIDE.

IT'S DOING 2 THINGS AT ONCE.

IT'S PROVIDING THE BOTTOM FOR A SECOND BOWL OUT OF THE SAME BLANK AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A SECOND BOWL IN HERE AND IT'S ALSO GOUGING OUT AS MUCH AS I CAN GET FROM THE BOWL ON THE OUTSIDE.

Huell: OK, NOW WE'VE TAKEN THE WOOD OFF THE LATHE.

IT'S NOT FINISHED YET BUT IT KIND OF SHOWS THE WAY YOU WORK ON IT WHEN YOU GET STARTED.

>> AND WHAT KIND OF THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND ONCE YOU START CUTTING, YOU KNOW-- Huell: FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT DON'T YOU LIKE ABOUT THIS?

>> WELL, IT'S GOT SOME VERY SOFT SPOTS.

I MIGHT BE ABLE TO CUT BEYOND THEM.

Huell: LOOK AT THE COLOR.

THIS RED COLOR ON HERE.

>> THE RED COLOR AND THE DARK COLOR.

IF I CAN MAKE THAT SHINE, IT WILL LOOK TERRIFIC.

Huell: YOU STILL GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> YEAH, THIS IS BY NO MEANS READY FOR PRIMETIME.

Huell: THESE ARE!

LOOK WHAT YOU DO!

THIS IS WHAT THEY END UP LOOKING LIKE.

THESE ARE ALL SPECTACULAR.

>> WELL, NO.

THIS IS THE JUNK PILE.

Huell: THE JUNK PILE!

>> WELL, LOOK, YEAH, SEE THIS ONE'S GOT A CRACK.

Huell: OH!

>> AND THIS ONE'S GOT ANOTHER CRACK.

SEE, THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET RIGHT AT THE END.

Huell: IT WILL JUST CRACK.

>> IT WILL JUST CRACK.

THIS ONE CAN BE REPAIRED.

THIS ONE I WILL REPAIR.

I'LL PUT ONE OF THOSE LITTLE DOVETAILS OR BOWTIES IN IT.

Huell: WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS ONE?

THE WHOLE SIDE CAME OUT.

>> AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE, I THOUGHT I'D JUST TAKE THE KNIFE AND TRIM THE TOP EDGE BECAUSE I SAW IT WAS GETTING UNEVEN AND THEN LATER I COULD PUT IT TOGETHER BUT IT JUST CAUGHT THE CHISEL AND SELF- DESTRUCTED.

Huell: SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU START HOW THIS WOOD IS GOING TO HOLD UP WHEN YOU GET TO WORKING ON IT.

>> ESPECIALLY A BOWL LIKE THAT, THERE'S JUST NO WAY OF KNOWING.

Huell: YOU COULD HIT A KNOT.

YOU COULD HIT A HARD PLACE.

>> YEAH.

Huell: AND IT JUST CRACKS RIGHT AT THE LAST MINUTE AND YOU THROW IT IN YOUR JUNK PILE.

>> THIS ONE WAS ALL DONE AND WAS ACTUALLY JUST A BEAUTIFUL BOWL, I THOUGHT.

Huell: LOOK AT THAT BIG CRACK.

>> THEN IT JUST SHOWED UP A COUPLE DAYS LATER.

THIS ONE, TOO, WAS GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL BOWL.

Huell: YEAH, BUT SEE THIS KIND OF ADDS CHARACTER TO IT.

>> WELL, SOMETIMES.

SOMETIMES.

Huell: I THINK YOU OUGHT TO HAVE A DISCOUNT PILE FOR PEOPLE TO BUY THINGS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AGAIN-- >> IT'S AN IDEA.

>> YOU DID THIS FROM DISCARDED WOOD.

MAYBE PEOPLE COULD FIND BEAUTY IN YOUR DISCARDED ARTWORK, WOODWORK.

>> YEAH.

Huell: SEE, YOU'RE RECYCLING IT YET AGAIN.

>> MAYBE YOU COULD DO THIS.

I COULD RECYCLE.

Huell: OH, LOOK AT THIS!

NOW, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> YEAH, THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

THAT'S A PIECE OF MAGNOLIA AND IT HAS SOME--MAYBE I CAN FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO KEEP THAT KNOT FROM FALLING OUT.

Huell: BUT THE KNOT IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> I KNOW BUT TO KEEP IT FROM FALLING OUT, YOU KNOW, SO IT DOESN'T JUST LIKE-- Huell: SOME DAY WHEN YOU GET IT HOME JUST FALL OUT.

THIS ONE HAS A HOLE RIGHT IN THE BOTTOM.

>> YEP.

GOT IT TOO THIN AND WENT THROUGH.

AND THIS ONE JUST-- IT'S A PIECE OF OAK, WHICH IS TRICKY STUFF.

IT'S JUST CRACKED.

IT JUST WENT MAD ON ME.

SO... Huell: WELL, I THINK YOU'RE QUITTING TOO SOON--GIVING UP TOO SOON ON THIS STUFF.

>> I'M THINKING THIS ONE 'CAUSE IT'S GOT A CRACK HERE AND IT'S GOT THE BOTTOM.

I'M THINKING OF MAKING IT INTO A GREAT BIG SPOON.

STICKING A HANDLE ON IT LIKE THIS.

I THINK--THEN IT WILL BE REALLY SOMETHING.

Huell: SEE, YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE THINKING, TOO, BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T THROWN IT AWAY.

YOU'VE LEFT IT HERE ON THE TABLE.

>> THAT' RIGHT.

Huell: IT'S STILL GOT POSSIBILITIES.

>> IT'S STILL GOT POSSIBILITIES.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

WE'VE LOOKED AT THE JUNK PILE.

AT HIS THROW-AWAY PILE, NOW WE'RE GONNA END UP BY SHOWING THE WORK THAT CAUGHT MY EYE AT THE HOLLYWOOD FARMERS MARKET.

YOU'RE THERE EVERY SUNDAY.

I WAS WALKING BY YOUR LITTLE BOOTH THERE AND JUST WENT CRAZY WHEN I SAW HIS WORK.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT RIGHT NOW.

THE GOOD STUFF.

AND HERE IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT.

AND, JOHN, THIS IS--WHAT KIND OF WOOD ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE?

>> THIS IS THE EUCALYPTUS ROOT THAT WE LOOKED AT IT IN ALL ITS STAGES, REALLY.

Huell: THE COLOR AND THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT COMPLETELY ROUND.

LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S--IT'S--IT'S NOT SHAPED PERFECTLY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I CUT IT WHILE IT'S STILL GREEN AND THEN IT DOES WHAT IT WANTS PRETTY MUCH.

Huell: ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

AND LOOK!

HERE'S ONE LIKE ONE OF YOUR THROW-AWAY BOWLS THAT YOU KEPT AND FINISHED AND POLISHED UP EVEN THOUGH IT'S GOT--WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT HOLE?

IS THAT LIKE A... >> THAT'S A KNOT HOLE.

Huell: A KNOT HOLE THAT JUST CAME OUT OF THERE.

>> IT'S ALSO I THINK A MAP OF AFRICA SOMEHOW.

Huell: WOW.

LOOK AT THIS.

THESE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.

LET'S FIRST-- WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE BOWLS BECAUSE-- >> THAT'S MAGNOLIA.

THIS IS THAT BIG PIECE THAT CAME FROM THE TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF VAN NUYS.

Huell: LOOK AT THE PATTERNS THAT THE KNOT HOLES-- OH, IT'S JUST--IT'S JUST-- >> YEAH.

I LOVE THE WAY THIS ONE'S SHRINKING AND SORT OF MAKING A RELIEF.

Huell: IT'S BEAUTIFUL!

AND HERE'S OUR LAST ONE HERE.

THE SMALLER ONE.

MAGNOLIA.

>> THAT'S THE INSIDE OF THIS ONE.

Huell: HOW DO YOU GET 'EM TO SHINE UP LIKE THIS?

>> I USE, UH, UH... TONGUE OIL.

Huell: WOW!

LOOK AT THIS!

THEY'RE JUST ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND THEN WE'VE GOT A LITTLE--JUST A LITTLE BOWL HERE.

LOOK AT THIS.

>> IT'S A PIECE OF ASH.

JUST WITH THE BARK LEFT ON IT.

Huell: WOW!

AND YOU ALSO MAKE THESE BEAUTIFUL VASES.

>> UH-HUH.

Huell: LOOK AT THE PATTERN ON THE SIDE OF THEM.

>> THAT'S AN AMAZING PIECE OF--THAT'S ASH, AS WELL, AND ASH HAS--THAT'S ACTUALLY FROM THE SAME AS THAT BIG BOWL.

IT'S FROM THE SAME PIECE OF WOOD.

Huell: AND HERE!

LOOK AT THIS ONE!

OH, MY GOSH!

>> IT'S A KAYSHA.

Huell: AND IT'S GOT A HOLE.

YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE SIDE OF IT.

>> YEAH.

IT SHRANK IN A BIG WAY AND I WAS ALL UPSET ABOUT THAT AT FIRST, YOU KNOW, AND I FINALLY FORGAVE IT AND NOW I LOVE IT.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PIECES I HAVE.

Huell: THESE ARE JUST SPECTACULAR.

PEOPLE GO CRAZY WHEN THEY SEE THIS, DON'T THEY?

>> THEY DO!

YEAH.

PEOPLE ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC, VERY NICE ABOUT STUFF.

Huell: WELL, IT CERTAINLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

I KNOW THE PEOPLE WATCHING IT AT HOME ARE JUST BLOWN AWAY BY THIS AND THEY CAN COME VISIT YOU AT THE HOLLYWOOD FARMERS MARKET.

I HAVEN'T ASKED THE PRICE OF ANY OF THIS BUT WHATEVER IT IS IT'S WELL WORTH IT BECAUSE THESE ARE--EVERY ONE OF THEM ARE A PIECE OF ART AND NO 2 BOWLS, NO 2 VASES ARE THE SAME.

EACH ONE IS TOTALLY UNIQUE AND THE BEAUTY OF THIS WORK IS NOT ONLY THAT WE KNOW WHO DID IT AND WE KNOW WHERE IT'S DONE AND WE KNOW IT'S KIND OF DONE WITH A LOT OF LOVE AND A LOT OF CARE BUT IT'S ALSO THIS WONDERFUL ART.

THIS BEAUTIFUL WOODWORK THAT HAS COME FROM WOOD THAT WAS GONNA BE THROWN AWAY AND JUST CHIPPED AWAY.

USED FOR CHIPS OR PUT INTO LANDFILL OR WHO KNOWS WHAT.

IT HAS BEEN GIVEN THIS AMAZING SECOND LIFE AND HAS REEMERGED IN ALL OF ITS WONDER AND ALL OF ITS BEAUTY IN THESE MAGNIFICENT PIECES OF ART.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS MEETS AND EXCEED MY EXPECTATIONS.

>> OH, GOOD.

Huell: ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SE TODAY.

WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS PAYING HONOR TO THESE TREES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YEAH.

Huell: FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF OUR ADVENTURE IN WOOD, WE HAVE COME TO GRIFFITH PARK.

I'M HOLDING UP THIS PIECE OF WOOD, WHICH MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO ANYONE RIGHT NOW BUT BELIEVE ME, YOU'LL FIND OUT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT IN JUST A MINUTE.

JACKIE, YOU AND I MET--ACTUALLY, YOUR GIRLFRIEND AND I MET.

TELL EVERYBODY HOW WE MET.

>> WELL, WE MET DOWN AT PHILLIPPE'S.

A RESTAURANT THERE IN LOS ANGELES.

WE WERE COMING OUT AND WE'D SEEN YOU AND I TOLD HER, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

THERE'S MR. HUELL HOWSER!

I GOT TO GO SPEAK WITH HIM ABOUT MY WOODWORK!"

Huell: BOY, HE DID, TOO.

YOU CAME RUNNING OVER, TOOK ME OVER TO YOUR TRUCK, OPENED UP THE BACK OF IT AND SHOWED ME THIS AMAZING PIECE OF WORK THAT YOU HAD DONE AND NOW WE HAVE TALKED JACKIE INTO BRINGING IT HERE TO GRIFFITH PARK.

HE'S SET UP A LITTLE DISPLAY FOR US AND LOOK WHAT HE DOES RIGHT HERE.

THE UNION PACIFIC.

THE BIG BOY.

JACKIE HADNOT.

AND YOU DID THIS.

EXPLAIN TO EVERYBODY WHAT THIS IS BECAUSE THIS IS--THIS IS SPECTACULAR.

YOU JUST STARTED WITH A BIG OLD PIECE OF WOOD HERE.

>> WOOD.

UH-HUH.

ACTUALLY, THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST LOCOMOTIVES THAT WAS EVER BUILT IN THE WORLD AND MY MAIN GOAL WAS I HOPE SOMEDAY I CAN PUT IT IN A PERMANENT PLACE.

MAYBE IN A MUSEUM OR IN A PUBLIC BUILDING WHERE IT COULD BE JUST STAYED THERE AND SHARED WITH EVERYONE.

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> THAT'S MY MAIN GOAL.

Huell: WELL, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU GOT HERE.

BECAUSE--WHERE DID YOU LEARN HOW TO DO THIS?

THIS IS SPECTACULAR WORK!

>> WELL, I WAS RAISED ON A RANCH UP IN CANYON COUNTRY AND AT 5 YEARS OLD, I USED TO RUN OUT ALL THE TIME AND THERE WOULD BE--THE TRAINS WOULD BE RUNNING THROUGH THE TRACK THERE AND WAVING AT THE ENGINEER AND THE CONDUCTOR AND A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER THAN THAT, I USED TO ALWAYS DRAW CARTOONS.

AFTER I GOT AROUND 5 YEARS OLD AND I GOT A LITTLE BIT OLDER AROUND 14, I TOLD MY MOM I WANTED TO START CARVING SOME OF THOSE OLD TRAINS I USED TO SEE GOING THROUGH THE TRACK.

BUT THIS ONE HERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE OLDER THAN THOSE TRAINS BUT I STARTED CARVING TRAINS.

Huell: SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY TRAINING IN WOOD CARVING.

>> NO, I WAS SELF-TAUGHT ALL THE WAY THROUGH MY ART AS FAR AS DRAWING CARTOONS AND DOING METAL SCULPTURES.

Huell: WOW!

LOOK AT THIS!

LET'S SHOW SOME OF THESE OTHERS BECAUSE THIS IS BEAUTIFUL RIGHT HERE.

YOU LIKE THE TRAINS.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

YOU'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL TRAIN HERE.

YOU GOT KIND OF A VERY ARTSY PIECE UP HERE.

MORE ABSTRACT.

>> YEAH.

THAT ONE THERE I CALL MY ABSTRACT IN WOOD.

I'LL DRAW AS MUCH AS THE WOOD WILL LET ME--DRAW THE TRAIN OUT AS MUCH AS IT WILL LET ME DRAW ON THE WOOD.

Huell: AND LOOK OVER HERE.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE RIGHT HERE BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY KIND OF ABSTRACT THERE.

JUST KIND OF THE WHEELS AND PART OF THE MACHINERY OF THE ENGINE.

>> YEAH.

THAT ONE'S ONE OF MY LATEST PIECES.

Huell: AND DOWN HERE, THIS IS ANOTHER PART OF THE ENGINE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S ACTUALLY PART OF THE UNION PACIFIC BIG BOY.

THE FRONT END OF THE DRIVING WHEEL.

Huell: AND YOU'VE GOT A REAL WORK IN PROGRESS RIGHT OVER HERE.

THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE ON THE GOLDEN SPIKE CEREMONY AT PROMONTORY SUMMIT IN UTAH MAY 10, 1869 AND YOU'RE JUST CARVING ALL OF THIS OUT.

NOW, IS THIS ONE PIECE OF WOOD?

>> YES, THIS IS ACTUALLY--THERE ARE SEVERAL PIECES OF WOOD HERE.

I DID THE DRAW UP ON IT AND I TOOK IT DOWN AND HAD IT PUT TOGETHER AS ONE SOLID PIECE.

NOW, THE RAILROAD TRACK HERE IS IN A EBONY AND YOU CAN SEE EVERY PIECE OF WOOD HERE ALL THE WAY INTO THE BACK OF THE WOOD AND IT'S ALL ONE SOLID PIECE OF WOOD.

Huell: HOW LONG HAS IT TAKEN YOU TO DO SOMETHING LIKE-- >> IT'S TAKEN ME OFF AND ON ABOUT A YEAR WITH THIS CARVING AND I'VE BEEN STOPPING ON IT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING THESE OTHER CARVINGS AND EVENTUALLY, I'LL GET TO THE POINT WHERE I'LL FINISH THIS OFF BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO GO INTO A MUSEUM.

Huell: YEAH, WELL, THIS IS MUSEUM QUALITY RIGHT HERE.

THIS SHOULD GO IN THE RAILROAD MUSEUM IN SACRAMENTO.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT TO THEM AND HOPEFULLY I GET A GOOD TURN-OUT FROM THAT.

Huell: WOW!

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

WE'VE SEEN YOUR FINISHED WORK AND WE'VE SEEN THIS, WHICH IS IN PROGRESS.

NOW, WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW YOU DO THIS.

OK, NOW, WE'RE WATCHING YOU AT WORK AND, BOY, YOU DO IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, DON'T YOU?

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT.

Huell: YOU DON'T USE ANY MACHINERY AT ALL.

>> ACTUALLY, I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO USE AND I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND SAY, "DO YOU KNOW HOW TO USE A ROUTER?"

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO USE A ROUTER.

I'VE NEVER USED ONE BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS MATERIAL.

THESE ARE OLD.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT OVER HERE?

>> THOSE ARE SOME OLD CHISELS.

THIS ONE GOES BACK WITH ME EVER SINCE DAY ONE WHEN I FIRST GO STARTED.

Huell: AND WHAT IS THIS?

>> AND THOSE ARE SOME OTHER GOUGES AND CHISELS RIGHT HERE.

Huell: AND YOU JUST HIT IT WITH THIS THING.

>> THAT OLD MALLET.

Huell: AND LET'S SEE WHAT YOU'RE HOLDING RIGHT THERE.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER CHISEL.

THIS IS JUST A REGULAR--REGULAR FLAT CHISEL.

Huell: SO WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU TRACE IT OUT?

>> I'LL TRACE IT OUT AND THEN-- Huell: AND THEN YOU DO THAT FREE HAND.

>> YEAH.

MM-HMM.

Huell: AND THEN YOU--LOOK AT THIS.

HE JUST TRACES THIS AND THEN YOU JUST--LET'S SEE YOU DO A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WOW!

BOY, THAT IS THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, ISN'T IT?

YOU NEVER MESS UP, DO YOU?

>> NOT REALLY, NO.

NO.

Huell: I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA SAY YOU DID IT ALL THE TIME.

>> NO, NO.

I MIGHT GO A LITTLE DEEP BUT I'LL JUST BACK OFF OF IT AND START DOWN AGAIN.

Huell: MAKE IT ALL DEEP.

>> THEN GO AT IT AGAIN.

Huell: WOW!

NOW, DO YOU--IS THIS GONNA BE THE WHOLE PIECE RIGHT HERE OR IS THIS PART OF A PIECE?

>> ACTUALLY, THIS WILL BE THE WHOLE PIECE.

IT WILL BE LIKE AN ABSTRACT TYPE OF PIECE.

WELL, I'LL DRAW AS MUCH AS THE WOOD WILL LET ME DRAW OF THESE JUST 2 WHEELS OF THE TRAIN.

Huell: YEAH, BECAUSE HERE'S ANOTHER PIECE THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THE ONE YOU'RE WORKING ON RIGHT THERE.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S MUCH SIMILAR TO THIS ONE.

IT'S JUST THIS-- Huell: WHAT DO PEOPLE DO?

YOU HANG THIS UP ON THE WALL AS LIKE A MURAL, LIKE A PIECE OF ART UP ON THE WALL.

>> YEAH, IT'S JUST A SHOW PIECE.

A NICE SHOW PIECE.

Huell: WOW!

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

WHY ARE WE IN GRIFFITH PARK?

DO YOU USUALLY COME OUT HERE TO WORK?

>> WELL, I'LL COME OVER HERE ON THE WEEKENDS AND WHEN I GET OFF WORK, I'LL COME OVER HERE AND PUT IN 3 TO 4 HOURS AND CARVE.

I LIKE THE OAK TREE DOWN BELOW FROM HERE IN THIS AREA RIGHT HERE AND I'LL CARVE.

IT'S JUST LIKE A STUDIO AWAY FROM STUDIO.

I HAVE A SMALL STUDIO BUT I'LL COME OUT HERE AND IT'S MORE PLEASANT TO CARVE OUT HERE IN THE PARK.

Huell: WELL, LOOK!

YOU'RE SITTING UNDER WOOD WORKING ON WOOD.

YOU'RE SITTING UNDER A BEAUTIFUL TREE.

AN OAK TREE.

>> YEAH, JUST AS LONG AS I DON'T START CARVING THE OAK TREE.

Huell: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

>> NO.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS VERY EXCITING.

WE MET BY ACCIDENT OUTSIDE OF PHILLIPPE'S.

WE WERE BOTH HAVING DOUBLE-DIP SANDWICHES ON A SATURDAY MORNING.

>> YEAH.

Huell: AND YOU GAVE ME YOUR CARD.

I THINK YOU WERE A LITTLE SURPRISED WHEN I CALLED UP, WEREN'T YOU?

>> I WAS VERY SURPRISED.

I REMEMBER SAYING--I GO, "YEAH, I COULDN'T BELIEVE YOU CALLED ME BUT THANKS FOR CALLING ME MR. HOWSER.

I APPRECIATE IT."

Huell: AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING ALL OF THIS WITH US.

YOU DIDN'T SEE THE FIRST PART OF OUR PROGRAM.

WE VISITED ANOTHER GUY WHO I MET KIND OF LIKE THE WAY I MET YOU WHO WORKS WITH WOOD AS WELL.

HE WORKS WITH RECYCLED WOOD AND YOU'RE WORKING WITH JUST A PLAIN PLANK OF WOOD AND TURNING IT INTO THESE WONDERFUL PIECES OF ART.

JACKIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MR. HOWSER, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

Huell: FOR SHARING THIS WITH US, THIS WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT WE SAW EARLIER TODAY.

BOTH OF THESE GUYS AND THE WORK THEY DO ARE JUST SPECTACULAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S GET OUT OF THE WAY AND GET A SHOT OF THE BIG BOY DONE BY JACKIE HADNOT OUT OF JUST A PLAIN OLD BOARD AND LOOK WHAT HE'S DONE WITH IT.

HE IS TRULY AN ARTIST WITH WOOD.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] >> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...